Apple Wins Patent for Smoke Detection System for iOS Devices

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Apple Wins Patent for Smoke Detection System for iOS Devices

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A newly granted Apple patent titled “Wireless device networks with smoke detection capabilities” has been published today by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, hinting at how future iPhones and iPads may feature onboard smoke detection hardware to alert users of a potentially dangerous situation, AppleInsider is reporting. While the patent may sound similar to network-connected products like Nest’s Protect, Apple’s solution offers a number of benefits and advantages over today’s fixed location setups.

Apple describes that once the system detects smoke, underlying control software is triggered to notify the device owner, activate a fire suppression system or perform other suitable tasks.

“Authorities might also be alerted to the emergency via messages sent by a device’s communications capabilities. Information can also be transmitted regarding house address, building layout, individual device location and more. Another embodiment monitors user presence, or whether a device owner is nearby when smoke is detected. This information, along with temperature, motion and location data, can play an important role in directing firefighters to building occupants or remotely notifying home owners of a fire.”